Ascension Parish Crime Briefs

Wednesday

Apr 12, 2017 at 11:42 AM

Donaldsonville Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Assumption Parish

On April 4, Matthew Jordan III of Donaldsonville, 28, pled guilty to the charge of Manslaughter following the 2014 shooting death of then 33 year old Franky Joseph of Donaldsonville. Jordan was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Thomas Daigle, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Jessie LeBlanc. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors.

On Sept. 14, 2014, shortly after midnight, Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the Alexis Sports Bar on La. 308 in Paincourtville following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, responding deputies located the victim, Franky Joseph, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the abdomen. Joseph was transported to the Assumption Community Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Investigators determined that both Jordan and Joseph were at the Alexis Sports Bar when the two became engaged in a physical altercation. Both subjects were separated by private security guards, and were both instructed to leave. Shortly after, Jordan returned from the area where his vehicle was parked with a .40 Caliber Ruger handgun in his possession. Jordan and Joseph then re-engaged in a secondary physical altercation which resulted in a struggle over the gun. During the struggle, a single gunshot was fired into the abdomen of Joseph. Following the shooting, Jordan fled the scene.

Several hours later, during the morning of Sept. 14, 2014, Matthew Jordan III was brought to the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office Detective’s Division by family members where he turned over the firearm used in the shooting and confessed to shooting Joseph. Jordan was subsequently booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center.

As per the plea agreement with prosecutors, Judge LeBlanc ordered that sentencing be deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. Jordan is facing up to 40 years in state prison. Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for July 5, 2017.

Donaldsonville Man Gets Jail Time for Possession of Meth

On April 4, Joel Quezaire of 603 Houmas St. Donaldsonville, 62, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance. Quezaire was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Charles “Chuck” Long, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Tess Stromberg. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors following an investigation into a 911 hang-up call in Donaldsonville.

On Dec. 22, 2016, Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a residence in Donaldsonville following the sheriff’s office communication center receiving a 911 hang-up call. Upon arrival, deputies attempted to make contact with someone at the residence, but were unsuccessful. Deputies observed two subjects sitting in a parked car in front of the residence.

Upon making contact with the individuals in the car, deputies detected a strong odor of marijuana. Deputies instructed both individuals to exit the vehicle and continued the investigation into the 911 hang-up call. Prior to interviewing the subjects, deputies conducted a pat down search of both subjects for officer safety. During the pat down of one of the subjects, identified as Joel Quezaire, deputies located multiple plastic baggies containing crystal meth. Upon deputies locating the narcotics, Quezaire admitted to being a meth dealer. He was subsequently arrested and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail.

Upon entering a guilty plea to the above charge, as per the plea agreement with prosecutors, Judge Stromberg ordered that Quezaire be committed to the Louisiana Department of Corrections for a period of 7 ½ years with credit for time served.

Convent Man Jailed on Possession of Cocaine Charge

On April 4, 2017, Lloyd Taylor of 6152 Rev. Thomas Scott St. Convent, 47, pled guilty to Possession of 28 Grams or More, but Less than 200 Grams of Cocaine. Taylor was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Koenig, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Thomas Kliebert. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors following a 2016 traffic stop.

On Feb. 4, 2016, deputies on patrol with the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on a burnt orange SUV near the intersection of Hwy 3274 and Railroad Ave. in Gramercy after observing the driver of the vehicle not wearing a seatbelt. Upon making contact with the driver of the vehicle, identified as Lloyd Taylor, deputies observed that there were two other individuals in the vehicle. Upon approaching the vehicle, deputies detected an odor consistent with that of marijuana. For officer safety, deputies conducted a pat down search of all subject in the vehicle. During a pat down search of Taylor, deputies located a clear plastic baggie containing a quantity of powder cocaine, and a clear plastic baggie containing a quantity of crack cocaine. At this time, Taylor was placed under arrest and transported to the St. James Parish Jail where he was booked accordingly.

Upon entering a guilty plea to the above charge, as per the plea agreement with prosecutors, Judge Kliebert ordered that Taylor be committed to the Louisiana Department of Corrections for a period of 5 years with credit for time served. In addition, it was ordered that Taylor pay a fine in the amount of $50,000.

Guilty Pleas

During the week of April 3-7, the following defendants pled guilty to various charges and were sentenced in the 23rd Judicial District Court, parishes of Ascension, Assumption and St. James.

Ascension Parish

Jason Burke, 37084 Sue St. Geismar, 37, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance (Methamphetamine) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. On the charge of Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, the defendant was sentenced to 1 year with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served and six months for the Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Joel Quezaire, 603 Houmas St. Donaldsonville, 62, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance (Methamphetamine) and was sentenced to 7 ½ years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.

Kimothy Batiste, 16163 Aikens Road, Prairieville, 53, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance (Hydrocodone) and was sentenced to five years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on five years supervised probation. The defendant is to be placed on home incarceration for the duration of probation.

Celine Breard, 13074 Roddy Road, Gonzales, 22, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance (Methamphetamine) and was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 18 months supervised probation.

Constance Comstock, 14823 Easby Ave. Pride, 32, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance (Cocaine) and Bank Fraud. The defendant was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served on each count to run concurrent with one another. The imposed sentence was suspended, and the defendant is to be placed on 36 months supervised probation.

Dawn Coppenbarger, 307 Nell St. Gonzales, 36, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance (Heroin) and was sentenced to 4 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. The imposed sentence is to be suspended on the following conditions: The defendant is to serve six months in the parish jail or enroll in and complete a court approved substance abuse treatment program. Upon completion, the defendant is to be placed on four years supervised probation.

Dustin Crawford, 760 Sammy St., Gonzales, 30, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance (Methamphetamine) and was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 18 months supervised probation.

Jeffery Allen, 43264 Moody Dixon Road, Prairieville, 26, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, Resisting an Officer, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The defendant was sentenced to three years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.

Lawrence Harvey, 14447 Oak Meadow St. Gonzales, 49, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to five years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on five years supervised probation.

Jarrett Hatcher, 1128 E Sybil St. Gonzales, 37, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance (2 counts), Illegal Use of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in the Presence of Minors, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. On the charge of Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and Illegal Use of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in the Presence of Minors, the defendant was sentenced to 36 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served on each count. The defendant is to be placed on 36 months supervised probation.

Justin Poche, 43100 Poche Lane, Gonzales, 23, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of a Legend Drug without Prescription or Order, and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance (2 counts).The defendant was sentenced to 4 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served on each count.

Rydell Banks, 10536 Legion St. Convent, 37, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to 36 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 36 months supervised probation.

Laquinton Duncan, 1111 St. Vincent St. Donaldsonville, 29, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous substance, Possession of Marijuana or Synthetic Cannabinoids, and Resisting an Officer.

The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Charles “Chuck” Long and Lindsey Manda. Presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Tess Stromberg.

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